Alex Neil launched a fierce defence of his Preston players ahead of the trip to Reading on Saturday.

North End lost back-to-back games over the Easter weekend but remain three points shy of the play-off places in 10th with six games to play.

Preston North End manager Alex Neil

At Thursday morning’s pre-match press conference Neil was clearly angry at some of the criticism levelled at his side after going down 4-1 at Sheffield Wednesday on Good Friday and 1-0 at home to Derby on Easter Monday.

“I’m very protective of my team and it gets to me when people criticise them,” said Neil.